(Log in to disable ads.)

  • Articles

  • The 10 best guitar picks: our pick of the best plectrums

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a new pick: for one, the shape, which affects the surface area of the plec and how easy it is to transition between the strings. Strummers and acoustic players may prefer a larger pick, while jazz and metal guitarists tend to prefer smaller, pointed designs.

The gauge of a pick refers to its thickness; thinner picks are better suited to rhythm playing, while alternate and bass picking can be easier with thicker plecs.

https://www.musicradar.com/news/the-10-best-guitar-picks-our-pick-of-the-best-plectrums

So no sharkfin's on the list... ? But I have number's 1, 3 ,4 & 7 in my stash. Have heard very good things about the Ernie Ball Prodigy (number 8), I'm told the bevelled edges really make a difference!

Raru have two specials :
1. 10 picks for R99: https://raru.co.za/list/19212-buy-10-plectrums-for-r99
2. 6 Prodigy Picks for R125 (R30/ea...they better be good!): https://raru.co.za/list/25378-buy-6-ernie-ball-prodigy-picks-for-r125

    I have been forcing myself to play with a 0.7 mm Ultex the past year or so (cut to Sharkfin shape). I still do better with the white Sharkfin, but the Ultex has a softer attack. I need to find Tortex fins, to try. I did the standard Tortex, it sort of needs something more. One big hassle is grip. Drilled all my Sharks and Ultex'es to improve grip. I still struggle with transitioning the grip position from single string picking to strumming.

      My favourite pick is a new Stubby 3mm, the only downside is that it wears down pretty quickly. Lately I've been using a Jazz iii, took a couple days to get comfortable with them. it's a brighter sound, and really cuts through the string smoothly. It's a on the lighter side for me, and for Gypsy rhythm style (le pompe) a heavier pick would be better. i need find a stubby equivalent that doesn't wear down. The Standard pick in Gypsy Jazz is the Wiggen 5mm, but they're stupid expensive.

      I do want try some thick wooden picks. I have a thinner one (about 2mm), that's ok, but something around 4mm would be cool for the Gypsy Jazz stuff I think.

      All the above is with my crazy thumpick "mod" obviously.

        10 days later


        Well I favour the Angry Birds plectrums. A well-known grocery purveyor gave these tokens away about a year ago, and they make fine plectrums. I stick a regular plectrum onto the token with double-sided tape, and snip around it with a sharp pair of scissors. A quick clean-up with a nail file sorts the profile out. You get a pic each side, and the pic on one side even changes when you change your angle of view. How cool is that? For the technically-minded guitarist, the pair shown is cut from a Bubbles Number 22 token.

          Write a Reply...